Kabbalah-of-the-Golden-Dawn-Pat-Zalewski - D Ank Unlimited

The Structure ofthe Tree
THE FOUR COLOR SCALES
OF THE GOLDEN DAWN
One of the most intriguing set of teachings within the Golden Dawn was
the application and use of the Four Color Scales as placed on the Four
Trees of Life. Without any understanding of both the theory of these
scales and how they are used in practical magic, one cannot expect to
make much progress as a magician in the Golden Dawn system. The symbolic
importance of the color lies behind virtually every aspect of the
work undertaken in both the First and Second Orders.
When Mathers created this color system he rook it from 22 systems
of color theory with no two colors being exactly identical, sometimes the
separation between colors being only a slight shade lighter or darker. This
subject was indeed one of the most complex among the Order's teachings
and due to the difficulty of painting the colors correctly many adopted
their own set of scales. Whar I have presented here is what was originally
in the Golden Dawn and the following set of color scales was taken
from a very early manuscript, later altered a number of times by various
temples over the years. This manuscript also had a ser of very well-preserved,
painted scales, and although I have had the advantage of adding
the odd piece of modern color terminology when I felt it needed it, I have
resisted tampering with it.
There are some interesting differences when rhese scales are compared
with those of Crowley's 777. I note that in these, Binah in the
Queen Scale is given the correct coloring of Blackish Red, whereas Crowley
gives it as Black, altogether ignoring its Red Root. Since the Crowley
Scales are readily available, I have decided to give this version which I
obtained from the papers of a former Chiefof Whare Ra Temple. Having
said that I would add that either the Crowley Scales or the ones given
here can be used and the choice is ultimately up to the reader as I am
unsure which is the earlier version. The truth of the matter is that there
are so many versions of the Color Scales (even Mathers altered his own
on a number of occasions) that to give a completely authoritative version
is almost impossible.P" The scales are numbered from 1 to 32. The first
69 Oral tradition at Whate Ra temple has it that the original scales were partly unusable when they
were applied to the coloring of the Tarot Trumps. An example of this is the 18th scale for each of
the Four Trees which relates to the Tarot Trump the "Chariot." as given in the Crowley scales. A
comparison with these scales will show the difference, though this is only one example of some of
the changes. Itwould be a fair comment to S